Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Dec 21, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, December 22, 2012 was estimated at 994.9 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 1.2 percent higher than a week ago and 8.9 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
0.3 percent higher compared to the previous year.

                        Meat Production (millions of pounds)
                             (excludes condemned)
Week Ending       Beef     Calf/Veal     Pork (2) Lamb/Mutton  Totals (3)
  22-Dec-12       504.1          2.1        485.6         3.1     994.9
  15-Dec-12       503.0          2.1        475.0         3.1     983.2
   Change:          0.2%         0.0%         2.2%        0.0%      1.2%
  24-Dec-11       462.8          2.5        445.6         2.7     913.6
   Change:          8.9%       -16.0%         9.0%       14.8%      8.9%
  2012 YTD      25112.2        111.9      22650.6       144.7   48019.4
  2011 YTD      25424.6        124.1      22190.9       138.2   47877.8
   Change:         -1.2%        -9.8%         2.1%        4.7%      0.3%
(1)Previous week estimates may be revised. Year ago data are actuals.
(2) Excludes lard.      (3) Totals may not add due to rounding.
2012 totals are subject to revision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Livestock Slaughter (head)
Week Ending   Cattle    Calves/Vealers     Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  22-Dec-12     633,000       15,000    2,348,000      44,000
  15-Dec-12     632,000       15,000    2,304,000      44,000
   Change:          0.2%         0.0%         1.9%        0.0%
  24-Dec-11     597,000       17,000    2,156,000      40,000
   Change:          6.0%       -11.8%         8.9%       10.0%
  2012 YTD   31,853,000      739,000  110,132,000   1,970,000
  2011 YTD   33,003,000      824,000  108,001,000   1,966,000
   Change:         -3.5%       -10.3%         2.0%        0.2%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  22-Dec-12   Estimate          1325          242         277       140
  15-Dec-12   Estimate          1325          241         276       140
  24-Dec-11     Actual          1299          250         276       138
            Dressed:
  22-Dec-12   Estimate           798          143         207        70
  15-Dec-12   Estimate           797          142         206        71
  24-Dec-11     Actual           777          148         207        69
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  08-Dec-12       47.2%        27.8%        23.0%        2.0%
  10-Dec-11       48.5%        27.3%        22.5%        1.7%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  08-Dec-12       96.9%                      2.8%                  0.3%
  10-Dec-11       96.8%                      2.9%                  0.3%

*2011 slaughter totals adjusted to reflect NASS revisions
Source: USDA Market News, St Joseph, MO
        816-676-7000    e-mail stjoe.lgmn@ams.usda.gov
        www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_LS712.txt
        www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketNews

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